A Descriptive Analysis on Usage of Online Knowledge Sharing Technology in Malaysian Research Universities

This study investigates the level of usage of online knowledge sharing technology among academics in Malaysian research universities. The prerequisite to successful knowledge sharing is the acceptance and utilization of the knowledge sharing technology (i.e.KMS), however, past studies testing the significant relationship between various technologies and knowledge sharing showed that there is no significant relationship between the two variables. Hence, the current study is interested in examining the level of usage of online knowledge sharing technology for the purpose of knowledge sharing among academic staff. A questionnaire survey was utilized in this study and a descriptive analysis was done. Specifically, the academics showed a high usage of online knowledge sharing technology. Therefore, an increasing emphasis on knowledge creation and sharing and technology application leads to a continuous evaluation on the role of technology in HRD

Distribution pattern, zoogeographic similarities and affinities of montane herpetofauna of Southern Eastern Ghats, peninsular India

We examined the distribution pattern, across-site similarities and zoogeographic affinities of amphibians and reptiles in the montane zones (> 900 m a.s.l.) of the Southern Eastern Ghats mountains in peninsular India. We deployed long-term field surveys in four select massifs namely Jawadi, Shevaroys, Kolli and Sirumalai and generated herpetofaunal species lists. Based solely on our species occurrence data, we identified taxa that characterise sites, site-pairs and site-clusters. We quantified the number of the various target taxa characterising each such Operational Geographic Unit. To infer faunal similarities, we performed cluster analysis using Jaccard’s similarity index. Our cluster diagram tree topologies differed between the various target taxa. The pooled data (amphibians, lizards and snakes) tree topology was similar to that of the lizard trees but the amphibian- and snake-similarity trees were similar in their topologies. Our observations and analyses indicate that physical separation distance and intervening rivers between massifs decreased herpetofaunal similarity. To identify the zoogeographic affinities of range-restricted taxa, we segregated the species into classes, based on decreasing extent of their geographic ranges. Our analyses reveal that widespread species were predominant in this community even at high elevations, followed by Western Ghats dispersers, Eastern Ghats endemics (both presumed and confirmed), and lastly peninsular Indian and Sri Lankan elements

Conceptualizing organizational learning system model and innovativeness

The link between organizational learning, organizational innovativeness and performance is very profound in the literature. Organizational Learning Systems Model (OLSM) focuses on organizational learning as a social organization and how it learns to exist in the surroundings. Emphasis on organization learning based like Parsons general theory of social action has linked performance and learning element in order to evaluate organizational performance. The Organizational Learning Systems Model (OLSM) grounded from Parsonian social system perspective which is active in nature help identifies the importance of working and learning process of adjustment. Organizational learning here is drawn from behavioural dimensions; acquiring knowledge, distributing and interpreting data, and organizational memory. Evidence has indicated that organizational performance increases when learning happens in an organization. Organizational innovativeness has shown the relationship with learning. This subject tries to evaluate the relationship between organizational learning systems model, organizational innovativeness that leads to positive output for the system

Conceptualizing Organizational Learning System Model and Innovativeness

Abstract Overview There have been many studies relating Schwandtz's learning systems model in studies relating knowledge management, innovation, learning capacities and also information technology. Looking into the analogy that every learning accompanied by actions or performance, this research emphasis on how may these actions significantly affectservice quality performance. The Organizational Learning System Model (OLSM)created by Schwandt's aim to give a continuous solution towards learning and performance from a theoretical perspective. The organizational learning here acts as an action based which involves organization as social organization where employees work collectively, share experience and cognition. When learning action takes place, action in the form of performance happens simultaneously. Thus, both learning and performance make ends meet in the form of collective action in organizations. The Schwandt Learning Systems Model meant to be applied specifically perspective on the important dimension as organizational learning, innovation and performance. Organizational learning is seen as a system that able to transform information into valuable knowledge through its actions, actors, symbols and process for a long term sustainability of an organization (Johnson & Bailey, 2010: 7

Analysis on the arcelin expression in bruchid pest resistant wild pulses using real time RT-qPCR

1195-1200Arcelin, the antimetabolic protein from wild pulses is a known natural insecticidal molecule. Wild pulses with high arcelin content could serve as potential source to increase the levels of insect resistance in cultivated pulse crops. In this study, arcelin (Arl) gene expression was screened in seven stored product insect pest resistant wild pulse varieties using real time RT-qPCR. Arcelin gene specific real time PCR primers were synthesized from arcelin mRNA sequence of the wild pulse variety, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Lablab purpureus. The results revealed different levels of arcelin gene expression in the tested varieties. Canavalia virosa<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt" lang="EN-GB"> registered significantly high content indicating its suitability for utilization of arcelin gene in developing stored product insect pest resistance with other cultivated pulses. </span

ASK2 Bioactive Compound Inhibits MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae by Antibiofilm Activity, Modulating Macrophage Cytokines and Opsonophagocytosis

The emergence and spread of pathogens harboring extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) like carbapenem resistant Gram negative bacteria are the major emerging threat to public health. Of particular concern Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenamase- producing strains have been recorded worldwide. Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) caused by K. pneumoniae are significantly associated with morbidity and mortality. Hence the present work was aimed to develop a strategy for addressing these issues through an innovative approach of antibiofilm and immunomodulation. These two independent activities were analyzed in a Streptomyces derived ASK2 bioactive compound. While analysing the effect of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs), 0.5x of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was found to be more effective in preventing biofilm formation on coverslip and silicone catheter. The minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) was found to be 15-fold higher MIC with eradication of 75% of 3 day old biofilm. Apart from its antibiofilm potential, ASK2 also acts as an opsonin and enhances phagocytic response of macrophages against multidrug resistant K. pneumoniae. In addition, ASK2 resulted in elevated levels of nitric oxide generation by the macrophages and has a stimulating effect on IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α proinflammatory cytokines. The opsonic role of ASK2 and its potential in modulating proinflammatory cytokines secreted by macrophages implies the importance of ASK2 in modulating cellular immune response of macrophages against MDR K. pneumoniae. The present study proposes ASK2 as a promising candidate for treating MDR K. pneumoniae infections with its dual properties of antibiofilm and immunomodulatory activities

Study of the Crystal Architecture, Optoelectronic Characteristics, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of 4‑Amino Antipyrine Schiff Bases

Two Schiff bases, (E)-4-((2-chlorobenzylidene)amino)-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one (4AAPOCB) and (E)-4-((4-chlorobenzylidene)amino)-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one (4AAPPCB), have been synthesized and grown as single crystals. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was employed to determine the crystal structure of the compounds, and the results suggest that the compounds crystallized into an orthorhombic crystal system having P212121 and Pbca space groups, respectively. Further, the crystallinity of the compounds was analyzed by the PXRD technique. The UV–vis–NIR spectra of the compounds demonstrate excellent transmittance in the entire visible region. The lower cutoff wavelengths of the compounds were determined to be 338 and 333 nm, respectively; additionally, optical band gaps of the compounds found were 4.60 and 4.35 eV. FTIR and NMR (1H and 13C) spectral techniques were utilized to analyze the molecular structure of the compounds. The compounds emit photoluminescence with broad emission bands with centers at 401 and 418 nm. The thermal stability and phase transitions were assessed through thermogravimetric methods. The phase transition prior to melting was indicated by the endothermic event at around 190 °C in the DTA curves of both crystals, and the same was observed in the DSC curves. The second harmonic efficiencies of the powdered compounds I and II were found to be 3.52 and 1.13 times better than that of the standard reference KDP. The 4AAPOCB and 4AAPPCB compounds showed isotropic polarizability amplitudes of 46.02 × 10–24 and 46.52 × 10–24 esu, respectively. The calculation of linear polarizability and NLO second-order polarizability (β) along with other optical parameters was performed for optimized geometries. The nonzero amplitudes of the average β values for compounds 4AAPOCB and 4AAPPCB were found to be 14.74 × 10–30 and 8.10 × 10–30 esu, respectively, which show a decent potential of the synthesized molecules for NLO applications. The calculated β amplitudes were further explained based on calculated electronic parameters like molecular electrostatic potentials, frontier molecular orbitals, molecular orbital energies, transition energies, oscillator strengths, and unit spherical representation of NLO polarizability. The current analysis emphasizes the significance of synthesized compounds as prospective candidates for optical and NLO applications through the use of experiments and quantum computations